Church of St. John at Kaneo
A small medieval Orthodox church on a cliff above the lake, with a domed roof and brick-and-stone walls. Its position over the water makes it the most photographed view of Ohrid.
Ohrid
Lake Ohrid's clear waters invite swimming at this UNESCO lakeside town, which also has old churches and a hilltop fortress.
Attractive locations
Church of St. Sophia
One of Ohrid's oldest and most important churches, with medieval frescoes inside. It served as a mosque under Ottoman rule, and today its fine acoustics make it a venue for concerts.
Samuel's Fortress
The large medieval fortress on the hill above the old town, with long stone walls and towers. Walking along the ramparts gives broad views over the lake and the rooftops below.
Ancient Theatre of Ohrid
A theatre from the Hellenistic period set among the houses of the old town, with rows of stone seats facing the lake. It is still used for concerts and performances in summer.
Plaošnik
An archaeological site and church complex linked to Saint Clement, who taught here in the early medieval period. Visitors can see early Christian floor mosaics and the reconstructed church of Saint Panteleimon.
Bay of Bones
A reconstruction of a Bronze Age lake settlement on stilts, built beside Lake Ohrid. Visitors walk on wooden platforms and see a small museum about the discovery of the site.
Monastery of Saint Naum
A hilltop monastery at the southern end of Lake Ohrid near the Albanian border, dedicated to the saint who founded it. Springs flow close by, and boat trips run along the lake.
Airports
Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport OHD
It is about 9 km in a straight line from Ohrid.
Skopje International Airport SKP
It is about 116 km in a straight line from Ohrid.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the North Macedonia page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-0.2 °C76 mm
- Feb1.1 °C68 mm
- Mar4.7 °C64 mm
- Apr8.9 °C61 mm
- May13.7 °C61 mm
- Jun18.5 °C44 mm
- Jul22.0 °C30 mm
- Aug22.3 °C29 mm
- Sep16.7 °C70 mm
- Oct11.6 °C81 mm
- Nov6.4 °C92 mm
- Dec1.3 °C92 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Oct, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 37% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
Ohrid Summer Festival
Lake Ohrid is the setting for theatre and concerts.
Who can help
Emergency
112. Police 192. Fire 193. Ambulance 194.
local government
Crisis Management Centre (CUK) - emergency 112
Helps with: North Macedonia's crisis management centre. Its page presents 112 as the emergency number, reachable round the clock and free of charge from all mobile operators.
Who qualifies: Anyone in North Macedonia facing an emergency or crisis.
Phone: +389 (0)2 3249 101
Email: cuk.mail@cuk.gov.mk
Address: Dimche Mirchev 9, P.O. Box 372, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
local government
Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia
Helps with: The ministry responsible for the national police. Its English site lists a Skopje head office with phone and email, and an online service for registering foreigners' stays.
Who qualifies: Anyone in North Macedonia, including visitors, with a police matter.
Phone: +389 (0)2 3 117 222
Email: kontakt@moi.gov.mk
Address: Dimche Mirchev 9, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
ngo
Red Cross of North Macedonia
Helps with: The national Red Cross society. Its site lists first aid, an urgent-assistance service, disaster preparedness and response, psychosocial support and blood donation.
Who qualifies: People in North Macedonia who need its first aid, urgent assistance or disaster services.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) North Macedonia
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Skopje office handles migration matters for the country.
Who qualifies: Migrants and others on the move. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +389 2 30 88 100
Email: iomskopje@iom.int
Address: Str. Oslo 6, 1000 Skopje
local government
Police emergency number 192
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 192
local government
Ambulance emergency number 194
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 194